The Sweden Democrats are last on stage in Almedalen for this year’s politicians’ week in Visby. But SD leader Jimmie Åkesson has called in a replacement – Linda Lindberg, the party’s group leader in the Riksdag.
Unknown to most people outside the party, she begins the speech by telling about her “Jimmie moment” in 2010, when the Sweden Democrats entered the Riksdag.
– I was so deeply disappointed at how the Social Democrats, the media and even the Moderates of that time, brought the Swedes behind the scenes, she says.
Dark image of Sweden
Lindberg paints a dark picture of Sweden with gang crime, shootings, benefit fraud and a welfare system that is lacking.
In the past, murders and other horrific violent crimes could make headlines for days on end, she continues, whereas today a murder makes the front page for a few hours if it is spectacular enough.
– But now the time for change is here, says Linda Lindberg.
She hits left and right and singles out Swedish politicians as “guilty” – including the parties she now cooperates with within the framework of the Tidö Agreement.
– They have sobered up recently. Thankfully.
Has lost support
At the same time, SD is the party that has lost the most in public opinion since the election, according to a survey in June by DN/Ipsos. Voter support of 17 percent is the lowest it has been in five years. In the election, the party received 20.5 percent.
– We hear your impatience. Your impatience that everything takes time, that nothing happens. Believe me, the pace is fast and we are at the forefront of wanting to change. But at the same time, we all know that it takes time.
Lindberg continues to talk about strengthening welfare, citizenship and, in the long run, internal cohesion.
She also says that “left-wing feminists” accuse SD of not standing up for gender equality and that that image is of course incorrect.
She believes that when other parties talk about how many women are firefighters, SD focuses on more important issues – such as protecting women from insecurity and sexual violence.
– According to all logic, the conclusion can only be one thing: all credible feminists should be Sweden Democrats.